Program, game system, electronic device, server, and game control method for improving operability for user input

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a program for a game in which characters operated by an electronic device and other electronic devices are placed in a common game field to play the game, the program causing the electronic device to execute receiving positions of the individual characters in the game field from a server; displaying a radar screen and icons; determining whether or not one of the icons has been touched; obtaining a touch termination position indicating a touched position that is detected just before a touch termination in a case where an icon has been touched and the touch has been terminated; determining whether the touch termination position falls within a predetermined range; and sending a sending request to the server in a case where the touch termination position falls within the predetermined range so that the server will send icon information to at least one of the other electronic devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/826,391 filed on Nov. 29, 2017 and entitled“PROGRAM, GAME SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, SERVER, AND GAME CONTROLMETHOD FOR IMPROVING OPERABILITY FOR USER INPUT,” which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a program, a game system, an electronicdevice, a server, and a game control method for improving theoperability for user input in a game involving a network.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, an increasing number of players are enjoying network-enabledgames in which a plurality of players can participate via a network.Such games are realized by a game system in which an electronic devicesuch as a game machine, a PC terminal, or a mobile phone carries outcommunications with a server device or the like of a game administrator.A player operating an electronic device can proceed with a game whilecooperating with other players or battling against other players in abattle game.

Regarding this type of game involving a network, a game in which aplurality of players operate their individual characters at theirindividual game devices, because of its nature, often requiresinformation about the situations of characters operated by other playersand also often requires communications among the participating players.

For example, Patent Literature 1 describes that, in a game in which aplurality of players operate their individual characters at theirindividual game devices, a radar screen for indicating the positions ofthe individual characters in a virtual game space is displayed.Furthermore, Patent Literature 2 describes facilitating the input ofmessages exchanged among players.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

{PTL 1}

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2004-329744

{PTL 2}

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2002-346230

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

While the use of the above-described type of game involving a network isexpanding, with the recent improvements in touchscreen technologies,electronic devices of the type in which a user interface on atouchscreen is used for user input have become common.

Although communications among players are required, as describedearlier, in the case where a game is played on a smartphone or the like,since character input operations are laborious, it is difficult for aplayer to send a message at the intended sending timing. Furthermore,since the game proceeds even while making inputs for communications, theplayer may fall into a disadvantageous situation in the game if it takesthe player time to perform message sending operations. Furthermore,conventional communication interfaces are directed to sending a messageto a specific person, and do not allow sending a message in associationwith a specific position or sending a message while checking themovements of other players. Meanwhile, in a game in which a plurality ofplayers participate, in particular, in a battle game in which a playercooperates with other players in a battle with an opponent team, itbecomes necessary in many cases to send a message to another player at aspecific position or to send a message while checking the movements ofother players. Therefore, in the case where a conventional communicationinterface is adopted, it is not possible to carry out communicationssmoothly among players, which might compromise the enjoyment of thegame.

The present invention has been made in view of the situation describedabove and provides a user interface that serves to enhance the enjoymentof a game.

Solution to Problem

The problems described above are solved by the present invention havingthe following features. Specifically, a non-transitory computer readablemedium storing a program according to an aspect of the present inventionis a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for agame in which characters operated by an electronic device and one ormore other electronic devices connected to a server via a network areplaced in a common game field to play the game, the electronic deviceincluding a display unit and a contact-type position input device anddetecting a touched position corresponding to a touch on thecontact-type position input device by a player as coordinates on thecontact-type position input device, the program causing the electronicdevice to execute a step of receiving virtual coordinate positionsindicating positions of the individual characters in the game field fromthe server; a step of displaying, on the basis of a predetermined touchoperation on the contact-type position input device, a radar screenindicating the virtual coordinate positions of a self-character operatedby the player and other characters operated by the other electronicdevices in a predetermined area of the display unit and one or moreicons outside the predetermined area, a step of determining, in a casewhere a touch on the contact-type position input device has beendetected with the radar screen and the icons displayed, whether or notone of the icons has been touched on the basis of whether or not thedetected touched position falls within a coordinate range correspondingto a displayed position of that icon; a step of obtaining a touchtermination position indicating a touched position that is detected justbefore a touch termination in a case where the icon has been touched andthe touch on the contact-type position input device has been terminatedor a step of obtaining a detected retouched position in a case where atouch is detected again after the touch on the contact-type positioninput device has been terminated; a step of determining whether or notthe touch termination position or the retouched position falls within acoordinate range corresponding to the predetermined area of the displayunit; and a step of sending a sending request to the server in a casewhere the touch termination position or the retouched position fallswithin the coordinate range corresponding to the predetermined area ofthe display unit so that the server will send icon informationcorresponding to the touched icon to at least one of the otherelectronic devices.

In a program according to an aspect of the present invention, theprogram causes the electronic device to further execute a step ofconverting the touch termination position or the retouched position intoa virtual coordinate position; and a step of determining whether or notthe virtual coordinate position of the touch termination position or theretouched position and the virtual coordinate position of each of theother characters satisfy a predetermined condition, and the at least oneof the other electronic devices is an other electronic device thatoperates an other character satisfying the predetermined condition.

In a program according to an aspect of the present invention, theprogram causes the electronic device to further execute a step ofconverting the touch termination position or the retouched position intoa virtual coordinate position, and the step of sending the sendingrequest to the server includes a step of sending the converted virtualcoordinate position in order to allow the server to determine whether ornot the virtual coordinate position of the touch termination position orthe retouched position and the virtual coordinate position of each ofthe other characters satisfy a predetermined condition to determine another electronic device operating an other character satisfying thepredetermined condition as the at least one of the other electronicdevices.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the predeterminedcondition includes a condition that the distance between the virtualcoordinate position of the touch termination position or the retouchedposition and the virtual coordinate position of the other character iswithin a predetermined distance.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the at least one of theother electronic devices is an other electronic device that operates another character having a predetermined relationship with theself-character.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the icon information isa text message, illustration, stamp, figure, image, voice, or videocorresponding to the icon and to be displayed or reproduced by the otherelectronic devices or command information for displaying or reproducingthese kinds of data stored at the server or the other electronicdevices.

A game system according to an aspect of the present invention is a gamesystem that includes a server and an electronic device and one or moreother electronic devices connected to the server via a network and thatplaces characters operated by the individual electronic devicesconnected to the server in a common game field to proceed with a game,the electronic device including a display unit and a contact-typeposition input device and detecting a touched position corresponding toa touch on the contact-type position input device by a player ascoordinates on the contact-type position input device, wherein theserver includes a virtual-coordinate-position receiving part configuredto receive virtual coordinate positions indicating positions of theindividual characters operated by the individual electronic devices inthe game field; and a virtual-coordinate-position sending partconfigured to send the received virtual coordinate positions to each ofthe electronic devices, wherein the electronic device includes avirtual-coordinate-position receiving part configured to receive thevirtual coordinate positions of the individual characters from theserver; a communication-screen displaying part configured to display, onthe basis of a predetermined touch operation on the contact-typeposition input device, a radar screen indicating the virtual coordinatepositions of a self-character operated by the player and othercharacters operated by the other electronic devices in a predeterminedarea of the display unit and one or more icons outside the predeterminedarea; a first touched-position determining part configured to determine,in a case where a touch on the contact-type position input device hasbeen detected with the radar screen and the icons displayed, whether ornot one of the icons has been touched on the basis of whether or not thedetected touched position falls within a coordinate range correspondingto a displayed position of that icon; a touch-termination-positionobtaining part configured to obtain a touch termination positionindicating a touched position that is detected just before a touchtermination in a case where the icon has been touched and the touch onthe contact-type position input device has been terminated or aretouched-position obtaining part configured to obtain a detectedretouched position in a case where a touch is detected again after thetouch on the contact-type position input device has been terminated; asecond touched-position determining part configured to determine whetheror not the touch termination position or the retouched position fallswithin a coordinate range corresponding to the predetermined area of thedisplay unit; and a data sending part configured to send a sendingrequest to the server in a case where the touch termination position orthe retouched position falls within the coordinate range correspondingto the predetermined area of the display unit so that the server willsend icon information corresponding to the touched icon to at least oneof the other electronic devices, and wherein the server, upon receivingthe sending request, sends the icon information to the at least one ofthe other electronic devices.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the electronic devicefurther includes a coordinate-position converting part configured toconvert the touch termination position or the retouched position into avirtual coordinate position; and a coordinate-position determining partconfigured to determine whether or not the virtual coordinate positionof the touch termination position or the retouched position and thevirtual coordinate position of each of the other characters satisfy apredetermined condition, and the at least one of the other electronicdevices is an other electronic device that operates an other charactersatisfying the predetermined condition.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the electronic devicefurther includes a coordinate-position converting part configured toconvert the touch termination position or the retouched position into avirtual coordinate position, and the sending request further includesinformation about the virtual coordinate position of the touchtermination position or the retouched position, the server furtherincludes a coordinate-position determining part configured to determinewhether or not the virtual coordinate position of the touch terminationposition or the retouched position and the virtual coordinate positionof each of the other characters satisfy a predetermined condition, andthe at least one of the other electronic devices is an other electronicdevice that operates an other character satisfying the predeterminedcondition.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the predeterminedcondition includes a condition that the distance between the virtualcoordinate position of the touch termination position or the retouchedposition and the virtual coordinate position of the other character iswithin a predetermined distance.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the at least one of theother electronic devices is an other electronic device that operates another character having a predetermined relationship with theself-character.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the icon information isa text message, illustration, stamp, figure, image, voice, or videocorresponding to the icon and to be displayed or reproduced by the otherelectronic devices or command information for displaying or reproducingthese kinds of data stored at the server or the other electronicdevices.

An electronic device according to an aspect of the present invention isan electronic device in a game system that includes a server and theelectronic device and one or more other electronic devices connected tothe server via a network and that places characters operated by theindividual electronic devices connected to the server in a common gamefield to proceed with a game, the electronic device including a displayunit and a contact-type position input device and detecting a touchedposition corresponding to a touch on the contact-type position inputdevice by a player as coordinates on the contact-type position inputdevice, the electronic device including a virtual-coordinate-positionreceiving part configured to receive virtual coordinate positionsindicating positions of the individual characters in the game field fromthe server; a communication-screen displaying part configured todisplay, on the basis of a predetermined touch operation on thecontact-type position input device, a radar screen indicating thevirtual coordinate positions of a self-character operated by the playerand other characters operated by the other electronic devices in apredetermined area of the display unit and one or more icons outside thepredetermined area; a first touched-position determining part configuredto determine, in a case where a touch on the contact-type position inputdevice has been detected with the radar screen and the icons displayed,whether or not one of the icons has been touched on the basis of whetheror not the detected touched position falls within a coordinate rangecorresponding to a displayed position of that icon; atouch-termination-position obtaining part configured to obtain a touchtermination position indicating a touched position that is detected justbefore a touch termination in a case where the icon has been touched andthe touch on the contact-type position input device has been terminatedor a retouched-position obtaining part configured to obtain a detectedretouched position in a case where a touch is detected again after thetouch on the contact-type position input device has been terminated; asecond touched-position determining part configured to determine whetheror not the touch termination position or the retouched position fallswithin a coordinate range corresponding to the predetermined area of thedisplay unit; and a data sending part configured to send a sendingrequest to the server in a case where the touch termination position orthe retouched position falls within the coordinate range correspondingto the predetermined area of the display unit so that the server willsend icon information corresponding to the touched icon to at least oneof the other electronic devices.

A server according to an aspect of the present invention is a server ina game system that includes the server and an electronic device and oneor more other electronic devices connected to the server via a networkand that places characters operated by the individual electronic devicesconnected to the server in a common game field to proceed with a game,the server including a virtual-coordinate-position receiving partconfigured to receive virtual coordinate positions indicating positionsof the individual characters operated by the individual electronicdevices in the game field; and a virtual-coordinate-position sendingpart configured to send the received virtual coordinate positions toeach of the electronic devices, wherein the server, upon receiving fromthe electronic device a sending request for sending icon information tothe other electronic devices, the sending request including the iconinformation and a virtual coordinate position accompanying the iconinformation, determines whether or not the virtual coordinate positionaccompanying the icon information and the virtual coordinate position ofeach of the other characters operated by the other electronic devicessatisfy a predetermined condition and sends the icon information to theother electronic devices operating other characters satisfying thepredetermined condition.

A game control method according to an aspect of the present invention isa game control method in a game system that includes a server and anelectronic device and one or more other electronic devices connected tothe server via a network and that places characters operated by theindividual electronic devices connected to the server in a common gamefield to proceed with a game, the electronic device including a displayunit and a contact-type position input device and detecting a touchedposition corresponding to a touch on the contact-type position inputdevice by a player as coordinates on the contact-type position inputdevice, the game control method including a step in which the serverreceives virtual coordinate positions indicating positions of theindividual characters operated by the individual electronic devices inthe game field; a step in which the server sends the received virtualcoordinate positions to each of the electronic devices; a step in whichthe electronic device receives the virtual coordinate positions of theindividual characters from the server; a step in which the electronicdevice displays, on the basis of a predetermined touch operation on thecontact-type position input device, a radar screen indicating thevirtual coordinate positions of a self-character operated by the playerand other characters operated by the other electronic devices in apredetermined area of the display unit and one or more icons outside thepredetermined area; a step in which the electronic device determines, ina case where a touch on the contact-type position input device has beendetected with the radar screen and the icons displayed, whether or notone of the icons has been touched on the basis of whether or not thedetected touched position falls within a coordinate range correspondingto a displayed position of that icon; a step in which the electronicdevice obtains a touch termination position indicating a touchedposition that is detected just before a touch termination in a casewhere the icon has been touched and the touch on the contact-typeposition input device has been terminated or a step in which theelectronic device obtains a detected retouched position in a case wherea touch is detected again after the touch on the contact-type positioninput device has been terminated; a step in which the electronic devicedetermines whether or not the touch termination position or theretouched position falls within a coordinate range corresponding to thepredetermined area of the display unit; a step in which the electronicdevice sends a sending request to the server in a case where the touchtermination position or the retouched position falls within thecoordinate range corresponding to the predetermined area of the displayunit so that the server will send icon information corresponding to thetouched icon to at least one of the other electronic devices; and a stepin which the server, upon receiving the sending request, sends the iconinformation to the at least one of the other electronic devices.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention provides a user interface for carrying outcommunications among players by using a radar screen for displayingpositions of individual characters in a virtual game space, therebyenabling a player to send a message or the like at an intended timing orto a destination not associated with a person but with a position, whilechecking the radar screen. Therefore, the present invention facilitatescommunications among players, which helps a plurality of players prepareand execute a cooperating strategy, serving to enhance the enjoyment ofa game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a game systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a serveraccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of anelectronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration showing coordinate axes of a touchscreen ofthe electronic device according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a game field for a game according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6a shows a normal screen in the game according to the embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6b shows a radar screen in the game according to the embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6c shows a communication screen in the game according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining information processing in the gamesystem according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a first embodiment of a flowchart for explaininginformation processing at a user interface for carrying outcommunications among players in the game system according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of a flowchart for explaininginformation processing at a user interface for carrying outcommunications among players in the game system according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of a flowchart for explaininginformation processing at a user interface for carrying outcommunications among players in the game system according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a fourth embodiment of a flowchart for explaininginformation processing at a user interface for carrying outcommunications among players in the game system according to theembodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings. In a game system according to thisembodiment, a plurality of electronic devices are connected via anetwork or the like, and the individual electronic devices send andreceive information, whereby a game in which a plurality of players canparticipate is provided. The players can commonly enjoy a game byoperating their individual characters on their individual electronicdevices in a virtual space set by the game system.

The game system according to this embodiment, in which the individualelectronic devices are connected via a network as described above, isassumed to be a server-client system; alternatively, however, the gamesystem may be configured as a system not including a server, such as aP-to-P system. Here, a player refers to a user who operates anelectronic device when a game is executed, i.e., a concept correspondingto a client in what is called a server-client system. Generally, aplayer can participate in a game via what is called a character thatperforms activities, actions, etc. in a virtual game space. Thus, inthis description, there are cases where what is simply referred to as aplayer refers to a character.

Furthermore, for convenience of description, in this description, thereare cases where players who participate in a game other than a playerwho operates an electronic device are referred to as other players, acharacter operated on an electronic device by a player himself orherself is referred to as a self-character, and characters operated onother electronic devices by other players are referred to as othercharacters. Similarly, there are cases where an electronic deviceoperated by a player is referred to as an electronic device, andelectronic devices operated by other players are referred to as otherelectronic devices.

[System Configuration]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a game system100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100is configured to include a server 200 and a plurality of electronicdevices 300. These components are connected to each other via a network101; alternatively, however, the components may be connected to eachother individually as needed. Furthermore, in the case where one of theplurality of electronic devices also operates as a server, the system100 may be configured not to include a server.

[Overview of the Configuration of a Server]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of theserver 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theserver 200 includes a processing unit 201, a display unit 202, an inputunit 203, a storage unit 204, and a communication unit 205. Thesecomponents are connected to each other via a bus 210; alternatively,however, the components may be connected individually as needed.

The processing unit 201 includes a processor that controls thecomponents of the server 200 and executes various kinds of processing byusing the storage unit 204 as a work area. The display unit 202 hasfunctionality for displaying information to a user. The input unit 203has functionality for accepting inputs from a user, like a keyboard anda mouse. The storage unit 204 stores a server program 206 and variouskinds of data that can be referred to when the program is executed. Thestorage unit 204 may be of any type that can store information, such asa hard disk, a non-volatile memory, or a volatile memory. The storageunit 204 may also be a removable memory, such as a memory card. Thecommunication unit 205 carries out wired communications using anEthernet (registered trademark) cable or the like or wirelesscommunications such as mobile communications or wireless LANcommunications to connect to the network 101.

For example, the server 200 is an information processing device that isused by a system administrator or the like when running and managing agame service. Upon receiving various kinds of commands (requests) fromthe electronic devices 300, the server 200 can distribute (send asresponses) a game program that can operate on the electronic devices 300or webpages, game screens, etc. created by using a markup languagecompatible with the specifications of the electronic devices 300.

These functions of the server 200 are realized by executing the serverprogram 206; alternatively, however, these functions may be realized byconfiguring electronic circuits or the like.

[Overview of the Configuration of an Electronic Device]

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of anelectronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The electronic device 300 includes a processing unit 301, adisplay unit 302, a contact-type input unit 303, a storage unit 304, anda communication unit 305. These components are connected to each othervia a bus 310; alternatively, however, the components may be connectedindividually as needed.

The electronic device 300 is preferably a smartphone; however, it maybe, for example, a mobile phone, a mobile information terminal, a tabletcomputer, a video game machine, a portable video game machine, or acomputer equipped with a contact-type input device, such as a touchpad.

The processing unit 301 executes various kinds of processing, such asgame processing and image generation processing, on the basis of aprogram as well as data input from the contact-type input unit 303 ordata received from a server. The processing unit 301 includes aprocessor that controls the components of the electronic device 300, andit executes various kinds of processing by using the storage unit 304 asa work area.

The storage unit 304 stores an electronic-device program 306. Thestorage unit 304 may be of any type that can store information, such asa hard disk, a non-volatile memory, or a volatile memory. The storageunit 304 may also be a removable memory, such as a memory card. Forexample, in the case where the electronic device 300 is a smartphone,the storage unit 304 includes a ROM and a RAM. The storage unit 304stores the electronic-device program 306 and various kinds of data thatcan be referred to when the program is executed. The program may includeprograms for all kinds of applications requiring user input, such as avideo game and a web browser. The various kinds of data include, forexample, image data for displaying various kinds of images in a game andcoordinate data that can be written to the storage unit 304 during agame.

The communication unit 305 carries out wired communications using anEthernet (registered trademark) cable or the like or wirelesscommunications, such as mobile communications or wireless LANcommunications, to connect to the network 101.

The display unit (display) 302 displays images that are output by aprogram executed at the electronic device 300. The display unit 302 ispreferably a liquid crystal display; alternatively, however, the displayunit 302 may be an organic EL display, a plasma display, or the like.

The contact-type input unit 303 provides the electronic device 300 withan input based on a position touched by a player, for example, like atouchpad. Preferably, the display unit 302 and the contact-type inputunit 303 are integrated as a touchscreen; alternatively, however, thedisplay unit 302 and the contact-type input unit 303 may be disposedseparately at different positions. For example, in the case where thedisplay unit 302 and the contact-type input unit 303 are integrated as atouchscreen, an input by a user's touch on the display unit 302 isaccepted, and the contact-type input unit 303 detects the coordinatescorresponding to the position touched by the player and supplies thecoordinates to the electronic device 300. Although any detection method(e.g., a capacitive detection method for a touchscreen) may be used,preferably, the contact-type input unit 303 is of the type that detectsa player's finger or the like simultaneously touching at least twopoints and that supplies coordinate information corresponding to theindividual detected positions to the electronic device 300.

Here, a touch refers to an operation or state in which a finger or thelike contacts the contact-type input unit 303, i.e., the touchscreen inthis embodiment. Although it is assumed in the description of thisembodiment that a touch by a player is made by using a finger of theplayer, any finger may be used for touching, or something else may beused, such as a stylus. Meanwhile, a release is an operation or state inwhich a finger or the like is away from the touchscreen. A playeroperates the electronic device 300 mainly by touching and releasing.Such touch operations may include touch, long touch, multi-touch,release, swipe, tap, double tap, long tap, drag, flick, etc. Forexample, a swipe is an operation in which a touched position is changedwhile keeping a finger or the like in contact with the touchscreen, anda drag is an operation in which an object, icon, or the like displayedon a display is designated with a touch and in which a swipe isperformed so as to involve a movement or shape change of the object,icon, or the like. Preferably, the processing unit 301 distinguishesamong some of or all kinds of touch operations on the basis of acontact, a contact position, a contact period, or the number of contactson the touchscreen with a finger or the like.

For example, in the case where a smartphone is used as the electronicdevice 300, the display unit 302 and the contact-type input unit 303 areintegrated as a touchscreen 307. In the contact-type input unit 303, aposition is designated in the form of coordinates by using a coordinateplane defined by a first axis and a second axis substantiallyperpendicular to the first axis. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, thefirst axis is substantially parallel to the shorter sides of the displayunit 302 (the contact-type input unit 303), which has a substantiallyrectangular shape, the second axis is substantially parallel to thelonger sides of the display unit 302, and a position is represented inthe form of coordinates (x, y) based on a coordinate axis in the firstaxis direction (horizontal axis) and a coordinate axis in the secondaxis direction (vertical axis). The processing unit 301 can obtain, byusing a program or the like, a touched position detected by thetouchscreen 307 in the form of data of such coordinates (x, y). Forexample, in the case where the detection precision of the touchscreen307 is 640 dots×1136 dots, a resolution of 640 dots in the horizontalaxis direction and 1136 dots in the vertical axis direction can beattained. In this case, each dot may be either a single point or acertain region (cell). It is to be noted, however, that the distancebetween dots usually varies among touchscreens (electronic devices). Inthis description, the term “distance” should be construed to mean adistance in terms of coordinates unless explicitly mentioned otherwise.The setting of coordinates shown in FIG. 4 is an example, and coordinateaxes can also be set by a program. Alternatively, polar coordinates canbe set, and other kinds of coordinate systems can be set throughcoordinate transformation.

As another example, in the case where the display unit 302 and thecontact-type input unit 303 are disposed separately at differentpositions, it is possible to set coordinates as described above in thecontact-type input unit 303, while setting coordinates corresponding tothe coordinates for the contact-type input unit 303 in the display unit302.

These functions of the electronic device 300 are realized by executingthe electronic-device program 306; alternatively, however, thesefunctions may be realized by configuring electronic circuits or thelike.

[Overview of the Game]

The game provided by the game system 100 in the present invention isrealized by causing the server 200 to execute the server program 206 andcausing the electronic device 300 to execute the electronic-deviceprogram 306. In the processing or operation described below, theprocessing or operation executed by the server 200 according to theserver program 206 may be realized by causing the electronic device 300to execute the processing or operation according to the electronicdevice program 306, and vice versa, unless an inconsistency arises inthe processing or operation.

In this embodiment, a smartphone is used as the electronic device 300.The electronic-device program 306 installed is, for example, a gameapplication. A player can start the game by activating the application.

An overview of the game provided by the game system 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention will be described. The game system100 places characters individually operated by a plurality of players ina virtual space for the game, thereby allowing the players to play thegame. Furthermore, the game system 100 creates a team (group)constituted of a plurality of players, places their characters in a gamefield 500 shown in FIG. 5, lets the team battle against an opponentteam, and determines the result. The opponent team may be a teamconstituted of a plurality of players or a CPU team provided by theserver program 206 or the like.

Areas 501 in the game field 500 represent the headquarters of theindividual teams. The player's team wins the battle if the team succeedsin breaking or occupying the opponent headquarters before the opponentsucceeds in the opposite. A lane 502 and a forest 503 serve as pathsthrough which characters can be moved. Meanwhile, characters cannot bemoved through a lake 504. It is to be noted, however, that the forest503 is an area having features such that it is harder to move acharacter, a character is less easily discovered by other characters,and so forth, compared with the lane 502.

FIG. 6a shows a normal screen 600 on the electronic device 300 operatedby a player in the game. The normal screen 600 includes an operationscreen showing at the center thereof a self-character 601 operated bythe player and also includes a radar screen 610. Preferably, theoperation screen is larger than the radar screen 610. In the normalscreen 600, an indication of the status of the self-character 601,setting buttons, etc. can also be displayed.

FIG. 6b shows the radar screen 610. Before explaining the radar screen,the positions of characters in the game field will be described. Sinceplayers participating in this game play the game by operating theirindividual characters in the game field shown in FIG. 6b , it isnecessary to share the positions of the individual characters in thegame field. Therefore, each character has virtual coordinate positioninformation in the virtual space of the game field. Hereinafter, what isreferred to as a position in the radar screen refers to a positioncorresponding to virtual coordinates in the virtual space. The radarscreen 610 is a screen showing a partial or entire map of the game fieldand showing a position 611 of the self-character and positions 612 ofother characters in the same team as the self-character on the map.Places where the player can recognize the situation via the radar screen610 are those within a possible capturing range 614 of theself-character 611 or the other players 612 in the same team as theself-character. The player or the other characters in the same team asthe player can recognize a position 613 of an other character in theopponent team only in the case where the position 613 of that othercharacter in the opponent team enters the possible capturing range 614.It may be made possible for the player to distinguish among theindividual characters, for example by attaching character names to theself-character and other characters in the radar screen 610.

Furthermore, the game system provides an interface for communicationamong the players in the team. FIG. 6c shows a communication screen 620according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a radarscreen 621 is displayed in a predetermined area of the touchscreen 307.The communication screen 621 includes the radar screen 621 in thepredetermined area, one or more icons 622 outside the predeterminedarea, and a screen switching button 623 outside the predetermined area.The communication screen 620 is a screen that enables players to quicklyexchange information, such as messages. Switching to the communicationscreen 620 is performed by touching the display area of the radar screen610 on the touchscreen 307 in the normal screen 600 shown in FIG. 6a .Alternatively, a predetermined touch operation may be defined for thepurpose of this switching.

The radar screen 621 is a screen in which the radar screen 610 isdisplayed in a predetermined area and is usually a screen in which theradar screen 610 is enlarged. The icons 622 are provided to allow theplayer to send information to other players or the game field.Preferably, a plurality of icons 622 are provided in the communicationscreen 620, as shown in FIG. 6c . Furthermore, a greater number of icons622 may be displayed in a sliding fashion in response to a predeterminedtouch operation, such as a swipe.

Each of the icons 622 has icon information corresponding to the graphicor text thereof. Here, the icon information refers to a text message,illustration, stamp, figure, image, voice, video, etc. that correspondsto the icon and that is to be displayed or reproduced at otherelectronic devices or command information for displaying or reproducingthese kinds of data stored in a server or other electronic devices.Furthermore, the icon information may include information about thesource player. The player can communicate with other players byselecting icons corresponding to such icon information.

It is to be noted that, in the case where the communication screen 620is displayed, the player cannot operate the self-character, which may bedisadvantageous for the self-character in proceeding with the game.Thus, in the case where the communication screen 620 is displayed, thecharacter may be moved automatically by a program for the electronicdevice. Exchange of information and other communications among theplayers in the team by using the communication screen 620 will beexplained in the context of game processing described below.

[Game Processing]

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining information processing in the gamesystem described above in the context of the game overview. Theelectronic device 300 activates the game when the electronic-deviceprogram 306 for the game is executed (step 701), starting communicationswith the server 200. Then, the server 200 recognizes the electronicdevice 300 (step 702). Then, the server 200 creates a game field andsends information about the game field to the electronic device 300(step 703). Alternatively, the game field may be generated by executingthe electronic-device program 306.

Then, the electronic device 300 creates a character (step 704). Thecharacter is created as selected by the player or automatically by theprogram. The electronic device 300 sends the created self-characterinformation to the server 200 (step 704). The server 200 stores thecharacter information and also stores other character information sentfrom other players (step 705).

Here, the character information represents various kinds of status ofthe character in the game and may include virtual coordinate positioninformation of the character in the game field. The electronic device300 and the server 200 exchange game information, including suchcharacter information and mutual communication information amongcharacters. However, the data structures for information relating to thegame are not limited to these data structures.

As described earlier, the character belongs to a team, and the gameinformation or character information may include information about theteam to which the character belongs. Preferably, the team to which thecharacter belongs is determined by the server 200 after collectingcharacter information of individual characters (step 705).Alternatively, however, the team may be determined by the server 200when creating a game field and sending the game field to the electronicdevice 300 or at other timings or by other methods.

The server 200 sends a part of or the whole character information toeach electronic device 300 on the basis of the stored characterinformation (step 706). Then, the electronic device 300 receives thecharacter information from the server, displays the normal screen 600including the operation screen and the radar screen 602 shown in FIG. 6a(step 707), and updates the screen and various kinds of status of eachcharacter (step 708). As described earlier, however, preferably, theelectronic device 300 does not display all the character informationreceived from the server 200, for example, places where the player canrecognize the situation via the radar screen 602 are limited.

The self-character information, including the position information, isupdated when the character is operated by the player or an event occursin the game field as the game proceeds. The electronic device 300 sendsgame information including the self-character information to the server200 at predetermined intervals (step 709). The electronic device 300 maysend game information to the server 200 regularly as described above orsend game information to the server 200 in response to a request fromthe server 200. The server 200 stores the game information received fromeach electronic device 300 (step 710) and sends game informationincluding other character information to the electronic device 300 (step711), and the electronic device 300 receives this information. Theserver 200 may similarly send game information including characterinformation of individual characters to each electronic device 300 atpredetermined intervals or send the character information in response toa request from the electronic device 300. Then, steps 708 to 712 arerepeated while the electronic device 300 continues to execute the game(step 712).

FIG. 8 shows a first embodiment of a flowchart for explaininginformation processing at the user interface for carrying outcommunications among players in the game system described earlier in thecontext of the game overview. The processing in the flowchart describedbelow is executed simultaneously when steps 708 to 712 in FIG. 7 areexecuted. Alternatively, however, the processing may be configured to beexecuted in information processing according to a single flowchart bymodifying it so as to be included in steps 708 to 712.

In order to display the normal screen 600 in step 707, at the start ofthe flowchart in FIG. 8, the electronic device 300 displays the normalscreen 600 and waits to accept a touch on the touchscreen 307 by theplayer.

The electronic device 300 determines whether or not the touchscreen 307is touched (step 801) and detects the touched position in the form ofcoordinates in the case where it is determined that the touchscreen 307is touched (step 802). The electronic device 300 determines whether ornot the coordinates of the detected touched position fall within ascreen switching area (step 803).

In this embodiment, a smartphone is used as the electronic device 300.Generally, a smartphone performs touch detection at predeterminedintervals and updates the screen at predetermined intervals. Forexample, the unit time for updating the screen may be set to be 1/30seconds, 1/60 seconds, or 1/120 seconds. In this flowchart, preferably,touch detection is performed in synchronization with the screen updatingperiod. Furthermore, it is assumed that the coordinates of the detectedtouched position are stored in the storage unit 304 temporarily or untilthe end of the processing according to the flow unless specificallymentioned otherwise.

Whether or not the coordinates of the touched position fall within thescreen switching area is determined on the basis of whether or not thecoordinates of the touched position fall within a coordinate rangecorresponding to the displayed position of the radar screen 610 in thenormal screen 600 shown in FIG. 6a . Alternatively, however, other areasmay be set for the coordinate range used for this determination. Thedetermination in step 803 may also be a determination based on whetheror not a predetermined touch operation is detected.

In the case where it is determined in step 803 that the coordinates donot fall within the screen switching area, processing corresponding tothe touch operation is performed (step 804), and the processing returnsto step 801. Although not described here, the processing correspondingto the touch operation refers to processing for moving theself-character being operated, changing settings, etc.

In the case where it is determined in step 803 that the coordinates fallwithin the screen switching area, the electronic device 300 displays thecommunication screen 620 based on the radar screen 610 (step 805). Then,the electronic device 300 determines whether or not the touchscreen 307is touched (step 806). In the case where it is determined that thetouchscreen 307 is touched, the electronic device 300 detects thetouched position in the form of coordinates (step 807) and determineswhether or not the coordinates of the detected touched position fallwithin a coordinate range corresponding to the displayed position of thescreen switching button 623 (hereinafter referred to as within thedisplay range) (step 808). The determination in step 808 may also be adetermination based on whether or not a predetermined touch operation isdetected, instead of a touch within the display range of the screenswitching button 623.

In the case where it is determined in step 808 that the coordinates fallwithin the display range of the screen switching button 623, theprocessing returns to step 801. In the case where it is determined thatthe coordinates do not fall within the display range of the screenswitching button 623, it is determined whether or not the coordinates ofthe detected touched position fall within the display range of one ofthe one or more icons 622 (step 809). In the case where it is determinedin step 809 that the coordinates do not fall within the display range ofthe icons 622, the processing returns to step 806. In the case where itis determined in step 809 that the coordinates fall within the displayrange of one of the icons 622, icon information corresponding to theicon is stored (step 810). In the case where the player has touched twopoints and the coordinates of the two detected touched positions fallwithin the display ranges of two different icons, icon informationcorresponding to the individual icons is stored.

After the icon information is stored, it is determined whether or notthe touch is being continued (step 811). When the touch is no longerbeing continued or a release is detected, touched-position coordinatesA1 detected just before the end of the touch are detected (step 812).Then, it is determined whether or not the detected touched-position A1falls within a predetermined area of the touchscreen 307 (step 813).Preferably, the predetermined area is the coordinate range correspondingto the displayed position of the radar screen 621, as described earlier.With this processing, the player can first touch an icon to determineinformation to send and can then perform a drag operation while keepingthe touch to determine a destination.

In the case where it is determined that the touched-position coordinatesA1 do not fall within the predetermined area, the processing returns tostep 806. This processing is effected in the case where the playercancels communications. In the case where it is determined that thetouched-position coordinates A1 fall within the predetermined area, thetouched-position coordinates A1 are converted into virtual coordinatesA2 in the virtual space of the game field (step 814). That is, thevirtual coordinates A2 are the coordinates at the position of thetouched-position coordinates A1 in the virtual space of the game fieldshown in the radar screen 621, and the virtual coordinates A2 representvirtual coordinate position information having the same coordinate axesas the position 611 of the self-character and the positions 612 of othercharacters, described earlier.

Then, the electronic device 300 determines whether or not the convertedvirtual coordinates A2 satisfy a predetermined condition with thevirtual coordinates of each other character (step 815). Preferably, thelatest virtual coordinates received in step 711 are used as the virtualcoordinates of each other character. The predetermined condition is, forexample, that the distance between the virtual coordinates of the othercharacter and the virtual coordinates A2 is within a predetermineddistance.

In the case where it is determined in step 815 that there is nocharacter satisfying the predetermined condition, while the electronicdevice 300 continues to execute the game (step 819), the processingreturns to step 806. In the case where it is determined in step 815 thatthere is an other character satisfying the predetermined condition, asending request is sent to the server 200 so that the server 200 willsend the icon information stored in step 810 to the other electronicdevice 300 (other player) operating the other character satisfying thepredetermined condition (step 816). The data of the sending requestincludes the icon information and information about the destinationelectronic device. Preferably, this data is sent to the server 200 instep 709 as communication information included in game information;alternatively, however, this data may be sent to the server 200 assending-request data separate from the information in step 709.

Upon receiving the sending request from the electronic device 300, theserver 200 stores the information (step 817) and sends the iconinformation to the other electronic device 300 operating the othercharacter satisfying the predetermined condition (step 818). The iconinformation is sent from the server 200 to the other electronic device300 in step 711 as communication information included in gameinformation. Alternatively, however, the icon information may be sent tothe other electronic device 300 as icon-information sending dataseparately from step 711.

The information processing in which the server 200 sends the iconinformation to the other electronic device 300 has been described aboveby using the flowchart in FIG. 8. Next, information processing at theother electronic device 300 having received the icon information fromthe server 200 will be described. The other electronic device 300 alsoexecutes the information processing according to the flowchart shown inFIG. 7 and receives the icon information sent from the electronic device300 in step 711 from the server 200. While the other electronic device300 continues to execute the game (step 712), the other electronicdevice 300 updates the screen, etc. to display or reproduce informationon the basis of the icon information (step 708). In the case where theicon information is a text message, illustration, stamp, figure, image,voice, or video, the other electronic device 300 displays or reproducesthese kinds of information received from the server 200. Meanwhile, inthe case where the icon information is command information fordisplaying or reproducing these kinds of data stored in the otherelectronic device 300, the server 200 has data to be displayed orreproduced, said data being stored in the storage unit 204, and sendsthe data to be displayed or reproduced, said data being stored in thestorage unit 204, to the other electronic device 300 on the basis of thecommand information received from the electronic device 300, and theother electronic device 300 displays or reproduces these kinds of datareceived from the server 200. Alternatively, each of the electronicdevices 300, including the other electronic device 300, has data to bedisplayed or reproduced, said data being stored in the storage unit 306of that electronic device 300, and displays or reproduces these kinds ofdata on the basis of the command information received from the server200. In the case where two icons have been selected and the otherelectronic device 300 has received two pieces of icon information, theother electronic device 300 displays or reproduces information on thebasis of the two pieces of icon information. In displaying orreproducing information on the basis of the two pieces of iconinformation, a direct combination of the two pieces of icon informationmay be displayed or reproduced, or information that is different fromthe two pieces of icon information per se may be displayed orreproduced. The information processing at the other electronic device300 at the receiving end is the same also in the following embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the following processing may be executedinstead of steps 815 to 818. For example, the electronic device 300having executed step 814 sends a sending request to the server 200 sothat the server 200 will send the icon information stored in step 810 toall the other electronic devices 300 operating other characters in thesame team as the player or to all the other electronic devices 300. Inthis case, the server 200 stores sending-request data including the iconinformation (step 817) and sends the icon information to all the otherelectronic devices 300 operating other characters in the same team asthe player or to all the other electronic devices 300 (step 818). Asanother example, the electronic device 300 having executed step 814sends a sending request to the server 200 so that the server 200 willsend game information in which the icon information stored in step 810is associated with the virtual coordinates A2 in the game field to allthe other electronic devices 300 operating other characters in the sameteam as the player or to all the other electronic devices 300. Theserver 200 stores the game information (step 817) and sends the gameinformation to all the other electronic devices 300 operating othercharacters in the same team as the player or to all the other electronicdevices 300 (step 818). In this case, when the other character at one ofthe other electronic devices 300 having received the game informationmoves to a position within a predetermined distance of the virtualcoordinates A2 within a predetermined time, the other electronic device300 updates the screen, etc. to display or reproduce information on thebasis of the icon information (step 708).

FIG. 9 is a second embodiment of a flowchart for explaining informationprocessing at the user interface for carrying out communications amongplayers in the game system described in the context of the gameoverview. Since the second embodiment is the same as the firstembodiment for steps 801 to 814, the description thereof will bedirected mainly to differences.

The electronic device 300 sends a sending request to the server 200 sothat the server 200 will send the icon information stored in step 810 toat least one other electronic device 300 (other player) (step 820). Thesending-request data includes the icon information and information aboutthe virtual coordinates A2. Preferably, the sending-request data is sentto the server 200 in step 709 as communication information included ingame information; alternatively, however, the sending-request data maybe sent to the server 200 separately from step 709. The processingreturns to step 806 while the electronic device 300 continues to executethe game (step 824).

Upon receiving the sending request from the electronic device 300, theserver 200 stores the received data (step 821) and determines whether ornot the received virtual coordinates A2 satisfy a predeterminedcondition with the virtual coordinates of each other character (step822). Preferably, the latest virtual coordinates stored at the serverare used as the virtual coordinates of each other character. Thepredetermined condition is, for example, that the distance between thevirtual coordinates of the other character and the virtual coordinatesA2 is within a predetermined distance. In the case where it isdetermined in step 822 that there is no other character satisfying thepredetermined condition, the server 200 does not send the iconinformation to the other electronic devices 300. In the case where it isdetermined in step 822 that there is an other character satisfying thepredetermined condition, the server 200 sends the icon information tothe other electronic device 300 operating the other character satisfyingthe predetermined condition (step 823). The icon information is sentfrom the server 200 to the electronic device 300 in step 711 ascommunication information included in game information. Alternatively,however, the icon information may be sent to the electronic device 300as icon-information sending data separately from step 711. As describedabove, in the second embodiment, the sending destination is determinedmainly by the server 200.

In the second embodiment, the following processing may be executedinstead of steps 821 to 823. For example, upon receiving the sendingrequest including the icon information, the server 200 stores thereceived data (step 821) and sends the icon information to all the otherelectronic devices 300 operating other characters in the same team asthe player or to all the other electronic devices 300 (step 823). Asanother example, the server 200 stores game information in which theicon information is associated with the virtual coordinates A2 in thegame field (step 821) and sends the game information to all the otherelectronic devices 300 operating other characters in the same team asthe player or to all the other electronic devices 300 (step 823). Inthis case, when the other character at one of the other electronicdevices 300 having received the game information moves to a positionwithin a predetermined distance of the virtual coordinates A2 within apredetermined time, the other electronic device 300 updates the screen,etc. to display or reproduce information on the basis of the iconinformation (step 708).

In the first and second embodiments, the player can send iconinformation to an arbitrary position in the radar screen 621 or toanother player by touching the radar screen 610 in the normal screen 600to display the communication screen 620, touching one of the icons 622corresponding to communication information to determine information tosend while checking the game field and movement of other characters onthe radar screen 621 in the communication screen 620, and performing adrag operation onto the radar screen while keeping the touch. Therefore,the player can communicate with other players quickly by using the radarscreen 621. As described above, the first and second embodiments are thesame regarding the operability for the player. However, there is adifference regarding the determination of an other electronic device 300that serves as a sending destination in that it is determined by theelectronic device 300 in the first embodiment whereas it is determinedby the server 200 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a third embodiment of a flowchart for explaining informationprocessing at the user interface for carrying out communications amongplayers in the game system described in the context of the gameoverview. Since the third embodiment is the same as the first embodimentfor steps 801 to 811 and steps 813 to 819, the description thereof willbe directed mainly to differences.

After the icon information is stored, it is determined whether or notthe touch is being continued (step 811). When the touch is no longerbeing continued or a release is detected and then a touch is detectedagain (step 825), the detected touched position is detected astouched-position coordinates A1 (step 826). Steps 827 to 833 after thisdetection are the same as steps 813 to 819 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a fourth embodiment of a flowchart for explaining informationprocessing at the user interface for carrying out communications amongplayers in the game system described in the context of the gameoverview. Since the fourth embodiment is the same as the secondembodiment for steps 801 to 811 and steps 813 to 824 and is the same asthe third embodiment for steps 825 to 826, the fourth embodiment is acombination of the embodiments described above.

The third and fourth embodiments differ from the first and secondembodiments in that a sending destination is determined by the playertouching an icon displayed in the communication screen 620 to determineinformation to send and again touching the radar screen 620 immediately.

In the processing or operation described above, the processing oroperation can be modified freely as long as no inconsistency occurs inthe processing or operation, such as an inconsistency that a certainstep involves the use of data that could not yet be available in thatstep.

The embodiments described above are examples for explaining the presentinvention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.The present invention can be embodied in various forms as long as thoseforms are within the gist thereof.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   100 System-   101 Network-   200 Server-   201 Processing unit-   202 Display unit-   203 Input unit-   204 Storage unit-   205 Communication unit-   206 Server program-   210 Bus-   300 Electronic device-   301 Processing unit-   302 Display unit-   303 Contact-type input unit-   304 Storage unit-   305 Communication unit-   306 Electronic-device program-   307 Touchscreen-   310 Bus-   500 Game field-   501 Area-   502 Lane-   503 Forest-   504 Lake-   600 Normal screen-   601 Character-   610, 621 Radar screens-   611, 612, 613 Positions-   614 Possible capturing range-   620 Communication screen-   622 Icon-   623 Screen switching button

The invention claimed is:
 1. A server in a game system that includes theserver and an electronic device and one or more other electronic devicesconnected to the server via a network and that places charactersoperated by individual electronic devices connected to the server in agame field to proceed with a game, the server comprising: avirtual-coordinate-position receiving part configured to receive virtualcoordinate positions indicating positions of the individual charactersoperated by the individual electronic devices in the game field; and avirtual-coordinate-position sending part configured to send the virtualcoordinate positions to each of the electronic devices, wherein theserver, upon receiving from the electronic device a sending request inresponse to a touch termination position or a retouched position fallingwithin a coordinate range corresponding to a predetermined area of adisplay unit in the electronic device, processes the sending requestincluding icon information and a virtual coordinate positionaccompanying the icon information, wherein the touch terminationposition or the retouched position corresponds to a touch on a contactposition input device in the electronic device, and wherein the serverdetermines whether or not the virtual coordinate position accompanyingthe icon information and the virtual coordinate position of each of theother characters operated by the other electronic devices satisfy apredetermined condition and sends the icon information to the otherelectronic devices operating other characters satisfying thepredetermined condition.
 2. The server according to claim 1, wherein thevirtual coordinate positions of the individual characters are displayedin a radar screen disposed in the predetermined area of the displayunit.
 3. The server according to claim 1, wherein the server comprisesfunctionality for: recognizing the individual electronic devices;creating the game field in response to recognizing the individualelectronic devices; and sending information about the game field to theindividual electronic devices.
 4. The server according to claim 1,wherein the server comprises functionality for: facilitatingcommunication of one or more messages among a plurality of players in afirst team in the game field, wherein the individual electronic devicescorrespond to a plurality of teams comprising the first team.
 5. Theserver according to claim 1, wherein the server includes functionalityfor: updating the virtual coordinate positions based on game informationand in response to the individual characters being operated within thegame or an event occurs in the game field, wherein the game informationis sent to the server at a predetermined interval.
 6. The serveraccording to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that thedistance between the virtual coordinate position accompanying the iconinformation and the virtual coordinate position of each of the othercharacters operated by the other electronic devices is within apredetermined distance.